Allergan, Ironwood Settle Patent Infringement Suit With Sandoz

Allergan and Ironwood Pharmaceuticals reached a settlement with Sandoz to resolve patent litigation over Sandoz’s planned generic versions of their co-developed irritable bowel syndrome treatment Linzess.

The companies sued Sandoz in 2016 in the U.S. District Court for Delaware when Sandoz sought approval of generic Linzess (linaclotide) in 145 mcg and 290 mcg doses before certain patents expired.

Under the settlement, the two companies will grant Sandoz a license to market the generic drugs in the U.S. beginning Feb. 5, 2030, subject to FDA approval.

The settlement is the fourth that the companies have reached regarding Linzess. They currently have pending patent litigation against Teva, which also wanted to market a generic of the drug.